Gun sight attachment



y R. c. JOHNSON 3,l93,932

GUN SIGHT ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 10. 1964 O 1 ENTOR. *fiq-.Z Roeen C. JZ NSON BY Me. 'K n #rrenave-vs United States Patent 3,193,932 j GUN SIGHT ATTACIMNT Roger C. Johnson, 1114 Robin Road, Muscatine, Iowa Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. %3,562 11 Claims. (CI. 33-47) This invention relates to gun sights and more particu larly to detachahle front gun sight attachments for shotguns and the like.

A pn'mary object of the invention is to provide an improved front gun sight attachment for the front sight of a shotgun that may he easily removed or attached to provide accurate sighting of the gun for use with a variety of ammunition.

In many states only shotguns can he used for hunting deer, and most of these states allow or require the use of a single projectile commonly known as a slug. Most hunters use their bird-hunting shotguns for firing slugs and are confronted with the alternative of using the shotgun bead sight or a makeslift sight.

Rifle type sights are generally considered an unsatisfactory permanent installation on a shotgun as such sights interfere with the bird-Shooting function of a shotgun. It is therefore advantageous to provide a detachable front sight attachment for a shotgun wherein the usual shotgun head sight can be used for Shooting birds and the like and wherein a front rifle type sight can be readily attached for accurate sighting of the gun when fin'ng the slug type ammunition when hunting deer or the like.

A gun sight attachment for sighting when firing slugs is shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,781,583 wherein a eylindrical sleeve containing a blade sight emhraces the shotgun barrel at the head sight and wherein the cylindrical sleeve is secured to the barrel as by a set screw. Such hlade type attachment does not offer positive positioning of the attached sight and the lowerprojection of the sleeve is likely to catch on brush, fences, gun casings and the like.

'Further the cylindrical sleeve sight attachment of this patent can be used only on plain cylindrical barrels, and it does not offer a wide ,choice of sight shapes.

Another detachable front gun sight is shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,007,019 wherein the front sight is mounted on a V-block secured on the barrel, and wherein the front sight is adapted to be used with a telescope and necessitates a mounting of the sight at a substantiallygreater distance from the barrel than iron sights. However, such sight is relatively large and offers a high line of sight which is likely tolcatch on brush, gun casings and the like. Further, this patent teaches the mounting of a detachable sight that the sight line of the iron sights is substanshotgun head type sight.

It isto overcome the disadvantages of the prior art that the present invention is directed. Specifically, the present invention relates to a detachable sight device that has a low line of sight that can be used with an existing head sight, and that can he Secured in such manner as to present a simple attachment and detachment thereof and,

that presents? a minimum of engagements with hrush, r

It is another object of the invention to provide a sight attachment wherein the front sight mounting is displaced from the base mounting recess to oifer a low line of sight.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses.

A clear conception of the several features constituting the present invention and the gun portions embodying the improvements may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a detachahle sighting means attached to a shotgun barrel;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing the relationship of the detachable sight attachment Components of the sight of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevation in section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation in partial section taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial elevation view similar to that of FIGURE 3 illustrating a different type of sight that may be enclosed by the sight attachment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 isa partial elevation view similar to that of FIGURE 3 showing another type of sight that may be enclosed by the sight attachment of FIGURE l;

' FIGURE 7 is an exploded View in perspective of a modification of a detachable sight attachment;

FIGURE 8 is an assembled cross-section of the detachable sight attachment of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 isanother modification of a detachable sight attachment.

While the improvements have been illustrated and descrihed as being especially advantageously embodied in a detachable sight for a shotgun, it is not intended to thereby unnecessarily limit or restrict the invention. It is also contemplated that certain descriptive terminology used heren shall be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 4, a shotgun barrel *10 is shown provided with a dovetail block 11 having a head sight 12 integral therewith. The block 11 does not eXtend vertically from the surface of barrel 10 to such an extent as to interfere with any sighting with reference to head 12, and, thus the shotgun having a barrel 10 can be satisfactorily used for bird Shooting and the like. Bead sights for shotguns are well known in the ,art and need not be discussed in greater detail. It is sufiicient to note that the block 11 and head sight are permanently Secured to the shotgun barrel. FIGURES 5 and 6, for example, show other types of sights in combination with a dovetail block. In FIGURE 5 a sight 40 is shown mounted 'on an extended recessed portion of a dovetail block 41, 'and in FIGURE 6 the dovetail block 42 is separate from the head sight 43.

j Returning now to FIGURES l to 4, an insert member :or'block 13 is shown provided with a longitudinally'extending channel 14 for mounting along dovetail block 11. Insert block 13 is also provided with a threaded opening 15 to receive a set screw 16, to be hereinafter described. A sighthase 17 is provided with a recess 18 adapted to receive insert block 13 and a head sight 12. The base 17 is also provided With -a countersunk opening 19 to receive set screw 16 so that tightening of the screw 16 secures sight base 17 to insert block 13 and allows the arcuate surface 24) to engagejthe curved surface of barrel 10. The longitudinal eXtent 'of curved surface 2@ helps maintain the sight base in a fixed position, and allows it to` be returned to the position after-it has been detached by the removal of screw 16.

By securing the sight base 17 to the insert block 13,

the insert block is forced upwardly and bears equally on the sloping surfaces of dovetail block ill, thus forcing the sight base to bear downwardly against the barrel to positively position and maintain the sight base on the barrel.

Sight base 17 is also provided with a transverse groove 21 which is longitudinally displaced a distance from recess 18 allowing a low overall contour of the complete attachment. Groove 21 has inclined sidewalls which form an interengaging guide way. A dovetail block 22 of blade sight 23 is complementary to groove' 21 and forms a press-fit connection therewith. A variety of sights having a dovetail for press-fit mounting are available, but it is believed suificient here to show only a blade sight.

The bead sight 12 is covered by sight base 17, which is secured to insert block 13 by a screw 16. The blade sight 23 mounted as hereinabove described in the sight base 17 thus provides a rifie type sight for the front sight of a shotgun barrel so that slugs, for example, may be accurately fired from the shotgun at deer or other game.

The rifle type sight and base ll7 is easily removed from the shotgun barrel as by removing screw 16 and lifting sight base 17 from insert block 13. The insert block ll3 is then removed from dovetail block lil, and the shotgun is ready for bird Shooting or the like by sighting with bead sight 12.

In the sight attachment disclosed in modification FIG- URE 7, a raised rib 25 is shown integral with a barrel 26. Such raised rib may also be located between the barrels of a double-barreled shotgun (not shown).

The rib 25 is machined as at surfaces 27 to form, in effect, an elongated dovetail block along a. front portion of the rib. An insert block 28 having a longitudinally extending channel 29 to mate with surfaces 27 is Secured longitudinally therealong. The insert block 28 is also provided with raised portions having threaded openings 30 to receive set screws 31. A sight base 32 having an elongate recess 33 is adapted to fit over insert block 28 so that base openings 34 align with openings 30. Set screws 31 are then located in openings 34 to threadably engage the threads in openings 30 to secure the sight base 32 to the insert block 28. The set screws 31 do not contact rib 25. Sight base 32 could also be provided With a recess so that it would fit over a bead sight on the barrel (not shown) located rearwardly of the insert block 28. A blade sight device 23 having a dovetail block 22 is inserted in position in transverse groove 35 to complete the front sight attachment on rib 25.

In FIGURE 9 another sight attachment is disclosed as mounted on a rifle barrel wherein grooves 36 are machined longitudinally along a front portion of the barrel to receive an insert block 37 having a longitudinally extending channel 37a. A sight base 38 is Secured to block 37 by set screws 39 in the same manner as hereinabove described in conjunction With the set screws 31 of FIGURE 7 and the screws 39 do not contact the barrel.

Thus a front sight attachment has been described wherein the attachment may be readily attached or detached from the barrel of a shotgun, and wherein the bead sight of a shotgun remains in place and does not interfere with the front sight attachment. The sight attachment is Secured to an intermediate block which grips a dovetail member to force the sight base downwardly to positively position and maintain the sight base on the barrel. The attachment serves as a support for a rifle type sight which is displaced a distance from the point of securement of the sight base to the intermediate block and thereby provides a low overall line of sight.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope -of the following clairns particularly pointing out and distinctly claining the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. In a firearm, in combination, a barrel, a block secured to said barrel, an insert member having a longitudinal channel adapted to engage said block for rigid attachment thereto, detachable and interengaging means between said member and block, a sight base having a recess for receiving said insert member, and fastening means for securing said sight base 'to said member.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said block is a dovetail block provided with an integral bead sight, and wherein said recess of said sight base receives said dovetail block and bead sight to enclose said block and bead sight.

3. A detachable sight device for a firearm having a block Secured near the forward end of the barrel of said firearm, an intermediate member having a longitudinal channel adapted to receive said block for securing said member to said block, a front sight device having a base provided With a recess to receive and enclose' said intermediate member and said block, and means for securing said front sight device to said intermediate member to force said base against said barrel.

4. The detachable sight device of claim 3 wherein said front sight device includes a longitudinally extending base for engaging said barrel, and a blade sight member se cured to said base displaced from said securing means.

5. A detachable sight device for a firearm having a longitudinally extending rib member mounted along the barrel of said firearm, an intermediate member having a longitudinal channel for receiving said longitudinally extending rib member, a sight base provided with a recess for receiving said intermediate member, and means for .securing said sight base to said intermediate member.

6. The detachable sight device of claim 5 wherein said sight base is also provided With a transverse channel displaced from said securing means for receiving the base f a rifie type sight for securement thereof to said sight ase.

7. A detachable sight device for the barrel of a firearm wherein the surface of said barrel is provided with a longitudinally extending groove means therealong, an intermediate member provided with a channel therethrough for engagng said barrel groove means, and a sight attachment member provided with a recess for receiving said intermediate member and Secured to said intermediate member.

8. The detachable sight device -of claim 7 wherein said sight member forcibly seats on said barrel upon securement' of said sight member to said intermediate member.

9. A detachable front sight device for a firearm having a detachable front sight securement means carried by the barrel of said firearm, an intermediate block having a channel therethrough for engaging and receiving said front sight securement means, and a sight member provided with a recess for receiving said intermediate block for locating and securing said sight member to said intermediate block.

10. The detachable front sight device of claim 9 wherein means are provided for securing said sight member to said intermediate block, and wherein said means may be removed for detaching said sight member and said intermediate block.

ll. A method of attaching and securing a rifle type front sight to a shotgun barrel having a dovetail block and bead sight, including the steps of: inserting an intermediate block over said dovetail block; enclosing said intermediate block and said bead sight 'in an elongate sight member; and securing said elongate sight member to said intermediate block to force said elongate sight member against said barrel to positively position and maintain said sight member on said shotgun barrel.

No references cited.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Exam'ner. 

1. IN A FIREARM, IN COMBINATION, A BARREL, A BLOCK SECURED TO SAID BARREL, AN INSERT MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL CHANNEL ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID BLOCK FOR RIGID ATTACHMENT THERETO, DETACHABLE AND INTERENGAGING MEANS BETWEEN SAID MEMBER AND BLOCK, A SIGHT BASE HAVING A RECESS FOR RECEIVING SAID INSERT MEMBER, AND FASTENING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SIGHT BASE TO SAID MEMBER. 